Barriers put brakes on scooters

BURNETT Heads retiree Keith Ridley enjoys making the trip on his mobility scooter to Bargara on the Turtle Trail two or three times a week.

But Mr Ridley says he can find it difficult to get through barriers set up to stop cars and motorbikes getting through.

"My scooter is one of the bigger ones," he said.

Mr Ridley said he carried an iron bar so he could pinch the wheels at the back of his scooter said he could get through the barriers.

"Anybody who was a little bit frail wouldn't get through," he said.

"It can be very awkward."

Mr Ridley said getting his scooter through the barriers could be a complex manoeuvre.

"You can't go head on at them, you've got to manipulate the scooter through," he said.

"You've got to drive in, then reverse back and manipulate the scooter through."

Mr Ridley said he had lived at the Burnett Heads caravan park for more than 40 years.

And he didn't want to give up his trips to Bargara.

"It's a nice scenic drive," he said.

Mr Ridley said he felt the planning of the barriers could have been done better because there were more and more people on mobility scooters.

He suggested a dogleg at the bottom of the barriers would make it easier for scooters while still keeping out motorbikes and cars.

Bundaberg Regional Council environment and natural resources spokesman Danny Rowleson said the barriers were to restrict car and motorbike access within the Barolin Nature Reserve.

"The council considered a number of designs at the time of installation which had to restrict motorbike access while also allowing access for pedestrians, bicycles, prams, strollers and bike trailers," he said.